New electors get EPIC during Voters’ Day celebrations

Distribution of Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to first-time voters and honouring elector enrolment efforts and champion practices of officers marked the 16th National Voters’ Day celebrations called by the Election Commission of India successful Puducherry connected Sunday (January 25, 2026).

The underlying ngo of the celebrations was to promote young prospective voters and first-time voters to enactment efficaciously successful the electoral process and to make consciousness for 100% elector turnout.

The taxable for this twelvemonth was ‘My India, My Vote’. Speaking connected the National Voters’ Day astatine Kamban Kalai Arangam, Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar cautioned archetypal clip voters against unfair electoral practices.

“Voter inducement is simply a perennial contented and 1 of the changeless thorns successful the behaviour of elections successful Puducherry. Young voters should not autumn for it since it is not the close happening to do. If you autumn for this, you mightiness suffer your close to inquire questions which is the essence of immoderate democracy,” helium said.

Mr. Jawahar besides emphasized connected the dangers of misinformation and disinformation connected societal media platforms. He said the Elections Department had started ‘Meiporul’ inaugural to disseminate truth. First clip voters should beryllium alert of misinformation particularly during elections since immoderate misinformation dispersed volition beryllium amplified by societal media algorithms.

A. Kulothungan, District Collector, P. Thillaivel and M. Kandasamy, Deputy CEOs participated. In keeping with the customized of awarding the champion electoral practices, the pursuing officers and unit were selected for the State grant nether the pursuing categories:

The Best ERO Award was fixed to Ankit Kumar, Regional Administrator, Yanam; A. Kumaran, Deputy Collector, Revenue (South), S. Savoundary, Block Development Officer, Ariyankuppam and K. Arunagirinathan, Block Development Officer, Karaikal successful designation of their services successful predetermination absorption and elector awareness.

The Special Recognition Award for Overall Coordination was presented to Buddhi Akhil and M. Adharsh, Joint Chief Electoral Officers, and A. Sivagnana Ganesan, Programmer, Elections Department.

The Special Award - Media Coordinator was conferred connected I. Ganapathy, Public Relations Officer, Directorate of Information and Publicity, Puducherry, for coordination of media outreach and elector consciousness campaigns.

Democracy connected Wheels, a mobile elector acquisition and consciousness inaugural aimed astatine reaching citizens successful distant and underserved areas of the U.T. was besides launched connected the occasion.

Mr. Jawahar besides administered the Voters’ Day pledge to reaffirm committedness to ethical and liable voting.